Consider an electron moving relative to us. Because the space in the electron's rest frame is contracted relative to us in the direction of the electron's velocity, the electric field lines are squeezed in the same direction, so the electric field "density" is bigger perpendicular to the electron's motion (but smaller (zero?) in the direction parallel to its motion). Is this the qualitative source of the magnetic field?
Is the magnetic field of a moving electron caused by length contraction in the direction of motion?
Deschele Schilder
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